I’m excited to share this cocktail recipe with you today because it’s one of my absolute favorites! While simple, it’s classic, crisp and refreshing. Oh, and utterly delicious. Before we dive into the recipe, first a little background, because I quite enjoy cocktails and conversation with friends. The summer of my senior year of college, I remember coming home from my grueling internship and meeting my dad out on the back deck. He was sipping on a ice cold vodka and tonic with the perfect wedge of lime and offered me one before dinner. I swear I had never drank anything as good and after that vodka and tonic became this girl’s signature drink.
Here and there I would dabble in gin and tonics as well (because gin and vodka are rather like cousins), but honestly I was never a huge fan of gin. That is until the first time someone offered me a Hendricks and tonic. It was a total game changer. And therein lies the moral of the story – if you think you don’t like gin, I encourage you to give a high quality gin a try. So many people I know think they don’t like gin, but then they taste Hendricks and well, it’s all over.
- 1 oz of St Germain
- 1-1/2 oz of gin
- 3 – 4 oz of Tonic water
- Fresh lime
- Ice
Fill a glass with ice. I’m not going to lie, I usually drink my cocktails out of mason jars because I’m classy like that. (Ok, really, I drink out of mason jar about 90% of the time, even if it’s just iced water. I’m officially that girl.) Add the gin and St Germain. Add more or less gin or St Germain to suit your personal taste. Squeeze a wedge of lime into the glass. Top with tonic water. Stir with a long spoon. Garnish with another wedge of lime.
What I love about this drink is the surprisingly delightful addition of the St Germain, which is an elderflower liqueur. I just very recently got turned onto it by my girl Erika and I’ve loved trying it out in different cocktails since then. Here the pairing of the St Germain and Hendricks with a good quality tonic water is second to none. And don’t skip the lime! The lime makes it bright and happy. Your tongue will thank you.
[Styling by Cyd Converse for The Sweetest Occasion. | Photos by Alice G. Patterson.]
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[…] classic gin and tonic gets an elderflower-y upgrade, thanks to a splash St-Germain and […]
John
Wednesday 27th of November 2013
This looks great, can't wait to try it! Have you ever tried Zephyr gin? It's harder to find but it's actually made with elderberry, and goes down surprisingly smooth.
Beth
Friday 12th of July 2013
Had to chuckle when I saw your recipe using Hendricks gin. The bartenders at The James Joyce in Santa Barbara turned me on to Hendricks, now the only gin we use. Then I laughed out lout (I am alone tonight so its ok to laugh out loud - right???) when I read about the pint jar. I drink out of an old olive jar (left over from Hendricks martini's). Enjoy your posts.
cyd
Sunday 14th of July 2013
Too funny - love a fellow Hendricks fan! Thanks, Beth :-)
Cheyrl B.
Friday 7th of June 2013
Omigosh--I am in my 60's and my daughter just introduced me last year to gin and tonics---with my addictive natural personality, I began a quest for the BEST gin in the world. I asked bartenders at every restaurant I have visited in the last year--some of their suggestions: Bombay Sapphire, Tanquery, Gordon's (one restaurant called it Gordon's in the Well), and I have fallen in love with Citadel. Now I am for sure going to try Hendrick's--one little trick Alton Brown suggests which I have adapted: freeze a tray of Tonic ice cubes for the final drink. Just a nice touch!!
cyd
Saturday 8th of June 2013
Hi Cheyrl! Love the idea of the tonic ice cubes :-)
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